we may have been unbalanced and light in the middle due to our bench options but that is no excuse for the absolute P*$$ poor "defending" I've just seen on some facebook highlights.

Going up in 1's, no one wrapping the ball up, props falling off 1 on 1 tackles, defensive line like a dogs back leg... Nothing to do with coaching and nothing to do with team balance that. That is basic stuff you learn as kids. Whether it's a game that means anything or not is besides the point. Top teams play with integrity 100% of the time and don't turn up and put in a defensive performance such as that. If you want to win a GF you have to set a standard that shows in your performance in every game you play all season.

No one is bothered about losing the odd game, you'll never win everything, play at 100% or blow teams off the park every week. There are too many variables in sport. However... It's about how you play and mange the variables which ARE within your control that matters and putting yourself in the best possible position to win.

Quite simply, it's about the manner in which you lose. And what I've seen today shows just how far off the mark we are as a club. Putting a few wins together over rivals is merely papering over the cracks and enables the 'real fans' brigade who can't see the bigger picture.

It's bad enough Wakey having the cheek to charge £25 to stand in that dump but going all that way to then see Wire put in a show like that? Pathetic.

As soon as we saw the 19 man squad with two young lads included and the number of forwards missing there was always the chance that we might struggle. It is not really surprising that Burgess didn't get a run with the game situation. The optimists among us still hoped for a better performance and you'd think/hope we had enough firepower and grunt on the field to do the job.
I would think coaching has been a right challenge in the last few months. Most clubs have had there share of problems and we just have to make allowances.

I'm sure it has but on the whole I disagree.

Players know the basics of the game. Professional & seasoned internationals don't need to be coached to put their shoulder into a tackle instead of grabbing shirts and they shouldn't need to be coached to communicate defensively. These are the basic basics of Rugby we're talking about.

Yep ... I wasn't talking about the basics of tackling & defending. Sounded pretty bad on the radio. We have defended very well in some games. Hope you recover from your miserable trip and that we get more forwards together for the next game.

I have every sympathy if Price found himself in an impossible situation with team selection, but that hasn't been the case in all of the last three games in which our first half completion has been below 50% each time.

Irrespective of who is on the pitch, another first half with those kind of stats will see us cop a real hiding come Thursday.

I think you'll be surprised and you'll beat them comfortably. Catalans seem to be planning on getting top spot by focusing on the easier games. Wouldn't surprise me if they rest a few like they did for the game against us.

I'll put it to you then, who do you blame for the unbalances of the team? Surely that is down to one person and one person only the coach. It has been mentioned that we were missing some forwards yet we choose to leave a prop on the bench for the whole game. Must be great for his confidence that. What is the point in taking him?

Wakefield had lost 5 on the bounce prior to Sunday and had 1 win in 8. The only reason they are not bottom of the league is because their is a Championship team in the league this year who shouldn't even be here. This was a game that with the resources available to both teams and the form of both sides we should have won comfortably.

The "prop" you talk about are you aware of his age and experience? He was unlikely to influence the game. He was obviously selected because there was no one else. Would you have preferred us to turn up with 16 men? When there was a hint of a fight back towards the end would you really have brought on a real rookie?

I have seen lots of coaches leave players on the bench. It does happen and Leeds did it in our last game.
Blaming the Coach for the availability predicament is plain daft really.

I was shocked when I saw Burgess`s physique on Sunday, he is very light weight to play prop.

He is only young, so with some serious work on his part, could put on the muscle that is needed to have a career in Super League.

I’m not buying this about physique and impact. Tyrone McCarthy played a cup final when he was as skinny as a rake, and kept out Paul Rauhihi in doing so. Energetic youth and aggression takes you a long way.

Sam Wilde was similar, I think he played 80 minutes on debut against Wigan. Even Chris Riley (different position, granted) got off the bench in the play off game against Leeds when he was a rag doll.

If you pick someone, play them. It doesn’t need to be from 70 minutes onwards, could have put them in for 10 minutes midway through the first half with Cooper and Hill still on. A 10 minute rest for someone in the middle would help to keep them fresher for the back end of the game. It’s about trust.

Here's a clue, re read the first bit of my post responding to you.

I wasn't absolving Price for our performance but playing with 4 half backs isn't the way forward either. Wakefield may return to their Championship standard form and losing streak once the Poching bounce has diminished but I think their players are better than you give them credit for

BTW be in no doubt I was thoroughly cheesed off with it on Sunday, Players AND Coach.